Rangers 10U team wins softball tourney

Estacada rallies from 4-1 deficit to beat Happy Valley in the finals

MILWAUKIE  The Estacada 10U softball team was almost untouchable on its way to the championship at an eight-team North Clackamas tournament last weekend.

The Rangers suffered their only hiccup early in the title game when Happy Valley raced out to a quick 4-1 lead.

Happy Valley would maintain its slim lead into the third inning before Estacada found its groove. Happy Valley was up 5-3 with a runner at third base, but back-to-back strikeouts from pitcher Chloe Crist kept the score frozen.

It wouldnt be that way for long.

The Rangers heated up in the bottom of the third, relying on aggressive base running to take control of the game. Elizabeth Smith slid home on a wild pitch to tie the score, and teammate Katelyn Dutton did the same moments later to put the Rangers ahead to stay 6-5.

Happy Valley went down in order in the fourth inning with Talya Hughes picking up a grounder for the first out, and Crist striking out the next two batters.

The Rangers put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth by reaching the four-run maximum to stretch the margin to 10-5. Crist highlighted the spurt with an RBI-single into left field, while Hughes connected on a ground ball that brought in Ryann Curtis with the games final run.

Crist was on fire in the fifth inning, throwing 12 straight strikes before Happy Valley managed a hit. The inning was kept alive when Happy Valley reached safely on a dropped third strike. Estacada finished off the game when Crist struck out the last batter on three pitches down the middle.

Estacada cruised to an 11-2 win over Sellwood in the Sunday afternoon semifinals.

The Rangers broke out to a 6-1 lead in the second inning when Crist took a large lead off third base, drawing a throw from the Sellwood catcher. The ball went high into left field, allowing Crist to race home safely.

She struck out the side in the top of the third, and Estacada finished off the semifinal win with another four-run scoring spree in the bottom of the inning. Alison Hartman powered the finishing spurt by sending an RBI-single into right field.

Estacada knocked off Happy Valley and North Clackamas in pool play and picked up a first-round win over Colton in bracket play.

The team will compete at the 10U state tournament in Albany at the end of June.

Other team members include Amber Haggstrom, Jessica Ott, Kyra Taylor, Aryahna DeWitt and Rebekah Sandidge.

View an online photo gallery from the tournament at daveball.exposuremanager.com.